Jones Au Naturel: at 35 calories a bottle, a clear and clearly delicious low-calorie soda alternative. Photo courtesy Jones Soda.

Sugary soft drinks have been deemed a contributor to America’s growth in obesity and diabetes in children and adults. So a few years ago, The Harvard School of Public Health issued a call to beverage manufacturers to create a new class of beverages with very specific calorie and sugar architectures.

Jones Soda has been the first to answer the call in the sparkling beverage/soda category, and has upped the ante by making the products all natural.

The Au Naturel soda line has stripped sparkling beverages to the bare essentials: only crisp carbonated water, all-natural sweeteners and flavor essences. The sodas are clear because there’s no reason to add color. They include green tea extracts with a small dose of natural caffeine for a pick-me-up.

Consumers who have outgrown full calorie sodas, those seeking lower calorie options and those interested in all natural foods have something new and exciting to sip.

The excitement comes from an excellent, sweet flavor for only 35 calories/7 g sugar per 16.9 ounce bottle (there are 100 calories/27 g sugar in a comparable amount of Coke). That’s an 80% reduction compared to most non-diet sodas, and also includes a full five grams of fiber.

The sweetener mix comprises low-glycemic and low-calorie organic agave syrup (nectar) and noncaloric stevia, along with a reduced amount of pure cane sugar. The new product line provides an alternative to traditional sodas, without sacrificing flavor or fizz.

The Au Naturel line launches with three flavors: Green Apple A Day, Lemon Limelight and Orange Ya Glad It’s Mango. All three are very refreshing, and the calorie savings:flavor ratio can’t be beat.

Au Naturel has a suggested retail price of $1.79 per 16.9-ounce bottle.

Find more of our favorite soft drinks.

We discovered the tasty Santorini Farro Salad on the SkinnyLicious™ menu at Cheesecake Factory and liked it so much we recreated it at home (recipe below).

We then asked: Why don’t we eat more farro?

So today we’re also sharing some background information on farro, and two cookbooks that showcase farro recipes and other nutritious and delicious whole grains, including barley, brown rice, kamut, polenta (cornmeal), quinoa and wheat berries.
 
 
WHAT IS FARRO?

Farro, also known as spelt and emmer wheat, is an early, very tasty wheat subspecies. An unhybridized ancestor of our modern wheat, farro was one of the first grains cultivated by man.

It was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times; it sustained the Roman legions as they conquered Europe.

Farro has a mild, nutty flavor, is high in fiber content and nutrients and can be tolerated by many wheat-sensitive people because its gluten is more easily digested (check with your healthcare provider). It has slightly more protein than modern wheat.

You can serve this as a side salad or a main salad. As a side, it combines both a vegetable salad and a grain or starch. The tzatziki is a refreshing touch, but If you don’t have time to make it, you can take a shortcut: Add some fresh dill and a bit of salt and pepper to plain Greek yogurt.

Here’s a farro main course recipe: Moroccan Chicken With Farro-Carrot Salad.

Ingredients

Preparation

1. SOAK. Soak whole (not cracked) farro overnight to soften the hull and remove any debris. You can omit this step, but give the farro a double rinsing before cooking. Store leftover farro in a tightly-sealed container.

2a. COOK. In a large pot with a tight lid, add two cups of salted water per cup of farro. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer for 20 to 40 minutes. Drain any leftover water; chill. TIP #1: Add a bouillon cube. TIP #2: Instead of discarding water, save it and substitute it for water in soup, gravy and other recipes. If you can’t use it immediately, freeze it.

2b. PRESSURE COOKER OPTION. If you use a pressure cooker, the farro can be ready in 15 to 20 minutes. Use 3 cups of salted water to one cup of farro.

3. MAKE TZATZIKI. This can be done days in advance. You can also purchase tzatziki, found in the yogurt section of the grocery store.

4. PREPARE VEGETABLES. Wash, slice, dice.

Here are two cookbooks to get you started:

May 9th is National Moscato Day.

Nearly two thousand years ago, the Roman author Pliny the Elder (23 C.E. – 79 C.E.) wrote in his Natural History: “The Muscat grape has been grown for a long time in Beaumes [in France] and its wine is remarkable.”

Call it Muscat in French or Moscato in Italian: Today is the first National Moscato Day, celebrating the “remarkable” wine. The holiday was declared by Gallo Family Vineyards, producers of excellent and very affordable Moscato.

By establishing National Moscato Day, the Gallo family hopes that you will raise a glass and get to know this delicious wine.

The wine is already on a roll: Moscato sales in the U.S. continue to grow faster than any other wine varietal, increasing by 74% in 2011 alone. You can pick up a bottle of Gallo Moscato for about $5.00. How can you resist?

Note that Gallo makes Moscato in red, white, and pink (as do other producers). At these prices, try them all!

TIP: If you don’t like any particular wine that you’ve purchased, turn it into a cocktail by adding gin, tequila, or vodka.

> Check out 13 food pairings, below.

________________________

*The Gallo Moscato is so inexpensive because the grapes are grown in Australia, where land is plentiful and cheap.
________________________

The next time you want a glass of white wine, reach for the Moscato (photo © Gallo Family Vineyards).

Moscato (mow-SKAH-toe) or Muscat (MOO-skaht) is a white wine grape. The wines, slightly sweet and low in alcohol, are often served with dessert. However, their ability to pair with other foods—and Americans’ penchant for sweet beverages like soft drinks and White Zinfandel—is bringing Moscato to the forefront in the U.S.

Moscato History

According to Uncork.biz, the Muscat grape is the world’s oldest cultivated grape variety. It may have originated in the sultanate of Muscat and Oman† on the southeast Arabian Peninsula.

The Muscat grape found its way to Rome and was brought by the Roman Legions to Gaul (encompassing present-day France). Over the centuries, it was planted in regions as disperse as the Crimea (Russia) and South Africa. Early Spanish and Italian immigrants brought it to America. In 1844, it arrived in Australia—the source of the grapes for the Gallo Family Muscato.

The Moscato grape is widely grown in Italy, where it is vinified into still and sparkling wines. Asti Spumante and its semi-sparkling cousin, Moscato d’Asti, are made in the Piedmont region, the northwest corner of Italy.

Moscato is light-bodied and low in alcohol—meaning that most people can have a second glass without overdoing it. The wine’s perfumed nose and lush palate burst with the seductive flavors of peach, honey, and citrus. The fresh acidity and delicate sweetness enable it to pair well with a broad variety of foods.

†Muscat and Oman was a country that encompassed the present-day Sultanate of Oman and parts of the United Arab Emirates.
 

 
Do you have a favorite way to serve Moscato? Let us know.
 
 

We look forward to trying different types of wine, especially those that are less familiar. As a result of our explorations, we now drink far less Chardonnay and much more Gewürtztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Riesling.

In the red wine arena, we’ve begun drinking more Rioja (ree-OH-ha), a wine produced in the La Rioja region in north-central Spain. The region also makes white and rosé wines, but the red wines are the most noteworthy.

Rioja is a fruity red wine with hints of spice and sometimes, coffee. Classic Riojas have the aging potential of Bordeaux; yet they’re more drinkable when young. They can be as satisfying as Bordeaux, at a half the price.

Like vintage Champagne, the best Rioja wines—reserve wines called reservas and gran reservas—are only made in great vintages. So, unlike with other reds, you don’t have to know whether the bottle you’re considering is a “good year.”

Get Mom a bottle and a book: The Wine Region Of Rioja.

Riojas are aged in oak barrels, and then further aged in the bottle before they are shipped from the wineries. When you find them in stores, you can drink them immediately—or lay them down to continue aging.

You can find the excellent 2001 vintage at retailers now. If you’re looking for a change of pace—or a Mother’s Day gift—pick up a bottle. Riservas can be bought in the $30 range (non-reserve Riojas for everyday drinking can be found for $10).

For a Mother’s Day gift—or for your own edification—combine the bottle of wine with the newly published book, The Wine Region Of Rioja. You may be tempted to take your next vacation there.

Gran Reserva Rioja

If you like Rioja reservas, you can graduate to the gran reservas: wines that are aged for six years at the winery (called a bodega in Spain). They then need to be put down to age for for 20 years after the vintage. They’re a treat for those who have the time to wait.

At age 20 or older, the black cherry and raspberry flavors of Rioja wines evolve to reveal secondary notes of leather and truffles. Mmm!

If you decide to buy a gran reserva gift, put a small label on the back of the bottle, such as “For Mother‘s Day 2012: Enjoy in 2025. From Beth and Tim.”

Two decades from now, they’ll thank you again!

Melt-in-your-mouth French macarons. Photo
by Oksana Shufrich | IST.

Great macarons are a memorable gift—and you can still get some in time for Mother’s Day.

This week’s Top Pick is Macaron Café in New York City: our current reigning favorite macaron.

Airy, delicate, melt-in-your-mouth sandwich cookies are made in dozens of flavors. Unlike many overly subtle macarons we’ve tried, these flavors are strong and delectable.

Macaron Café makes all the classic flavors, plus trendy favorites such as Caramel Fleur de Sel (salted caramel) and Nutella.

Check out the full review and treat yourself—or your favorite mom—to a box.

Macaron vs. macaroon: What’s the difference?

Find more of our favorite cookies and recipes in our Gourmet Cookies Section.